Discover the Fascinating Elements of the Ark of the Covenant

 

Hey there! Today, I’m excited to share three incredible props that illustrate God's faithfulness, all found within the Ark of the Covenant. Let’s dive right into it!

Aaron's Rod

First up, we have Aaron's rod. You might recall the backstory: Aaron's leadership was under scrutiny, just like Moses. So, to settle who God had chosen, each tribe placed a stick in the Tabernacle. The next morning, Aaron's rod had budded, blossomed, and even produced almonds—God's clear sign of His choice!

To create a stick for your students to hold, you can use any stick—whether it's as long as a walking stick or as short as a twig. Simply glue on some flowers and pods, which you can find at any craft store. While you could use real almonds, I recommend avoiding them for long-term use, as they can rot or attract mice. If you’re crafting this for personal use, I suggest using E6000 glue; it's strong, but be cautious as it’s not suitable for children.

The Ten Commandments

Next, let’s talk about God's law, written on stone: the Ten Commandments. If you have your own stone tablets, feel free to bring them in for the kids; they absolutely love holding them and imagining what it must have been like for Moses to carry them down from the mountain.

But if you don’t have stone tablets, no worries! A great alternative is slate. You can find slate in various sizes—these happen to be 5x7, but you can go larger or smaller. For decoration, I used scrapbooking stickers. You’ll need 14 "I's", five "V's," and two "X's." If you want a different look, a silver Sharpie works wonders on the black slate, making it easy to write out the Ten Commandments for your students.

Manna

Finally, we arrive at manna. This is the miraculous food that God provided for the Israelites as they wandered in the desert. Manna is described in the Bible as thin, wafer-like, and tasting like honey. Interestingly, the name "manna" translates from Hebrew to "what is it?" So, if your students ask, you can respond with that phrase!

To create a pot of manna for your students to see and hold, find any container you like—it doesn’t have to be gold. Cut some Styrofoam to fit inside, and then glue on some crackers or whatever you have at home. I used rice crackers, but feel free to go with what you prefer! If you want to preserve it longer, consider sealing it with polyurethane or shellac for a nice sheen. Otherwise, potato flakes could work well to represent the manna. You could even set up an activity where kids sprinkle potato flakes on a sheet, simulating how much work it takes to collect manna daily. That would lead to some great discussions!

Conclusion

So there you have it! Three significant items from the Ark of the Covenant and how you can create them for your children to hold and experience themselves. Remember, props are always better than paper! 

If you're interested in enhancing the experience even further, check out rent already made props for a fully immersive Tabernacle experience!

Find curriculum to go with this craft!

Our "Walking Alingside Jesus" curriculum helps your students see Jesus through the Old Testament!

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